Marshall businesses highlighted in Chamber workshop

Jody Isaackson

Staff Writer

jisaackson@marshallindependent.com

Photo by Jody Isaackson
Marshall Area Chamber Director Brad Gruhot gave a workshop on all the information and events found on the Chamber website that would be of interest to residents and visitors as well as member businesses.

MARSHALL — Marshall businesses shine on the Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce website and at its events, giving visitors and residents a better idea of what is available in the area for entertainment and business opportunities.

Chamber director Brad Gruhot conducted a workshop Thursday morning in the Chamber conference room to help business people get acquainted with the services and benefits available to member businesses.

With a PowerPoint presentation, Gruhot said that member businesses enjoy such opportunities as ambassador visits, chamber gift checks and Marshall Bucks Books (great for employee bonuses and gifts), business retention, direct referrals, legislative advocacy and access to the conference room for meeting space.

Attendees were able to purchase chamber coupon books and noting the available meeting space.

“The coupon book can be used as a nonprofit group fundraiser,” Gruhot said.

Communication resources available through membership include Chamber e-connection, Chamber website locations and Chamber Connection through the Marshall Independent.

“I can refer clients to the chamber website for relocation information,” said Diane Buesing of Wilson O’Brien Realty.

Gruhot agreed and went on to explain the professional development and networking opportunities available.

“A lot of networking goes on at Let’s Connect events such as the One Office Solution Business After Hours event coming up on November 16,” he said. “There’s also Women’s Connect luncheons and Young Professionals luncheons where they bring in speakers.”

A full schedule of events can be found on the chamber website along with registration information.

In addition to those networking opportunities there are committee participation, speaker series, training and special interest seminars, Marshall Leadership Academy and Marshall Chamber 101 training. The United Way Volunteer Portal is also on the website.

“When I first got married, we lived in the cities because that’s where my wife grew up,” Ryan Snodgrass said. “The metro area has the reputation of having so much more to do (than the rural area). The problem is, it takes so long to drive to anything that we never really did any of those things. Marshall is different. There is a lot to do and so many businesses right here, and just minutes away.”

“Just because we don’t have a strip mall doesn’t mean we don’t have shops,” Buesing said. “There are so many different things that we offer here, people are amazed at all the little boutiques downtown.”

The Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce also includes small towns in the surrounding area as well as Marshall businesses, and the chamber has all that information on its website, https://marshall-mn.org/main/.

Questions may also be addressed to chamber staff at 507-532-4484 or toll free at 800-825-9171.